The man who murdered Kelva Smith in South Norwood earlier this year has been slammed by police, along with his co-defendants, for laughing, cracking jokes and shouting from the dock during their trial at the Old Bailey.

Tyrone Farquharson had been on trial for the murder of Mr Smith, along with a 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy, since mid-September.

All three "sought to frustrate the investigation", police have said, with each of them showing "little dignity".

Farquharson, 20, of Archer Road, in South Norwood, was found guilty this afternoon (Thursday, October 25) by a jury of murdering 20-year-old Mr Smith.

The 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy, both of whom cannot be identified for legal reasons, were found not guilty of murder. The 14-year-old was also found not guilty of being in possession of a knife, as well as attempted wounding.

The 16-year-old previously admitted being in possession of an axe.

Following the verdicts, Detective Sergeant Rob Tickle, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, criticised the way all three behaved throughout the trial.

"Since the day of Kelva's murder, accused individuals before the court have sought to frustrate the investigation and have treated the seriousness of the trial with utter contempt and disdain," he said.

"Shouting from the dock and laughing and joking between themselves, they showed Kelva and his family as little dignity in death as they did in the final moments of his life.

Tyrone Farquharson will be sentenced at the Old Bailey in the coming weeks (Image: Met Police)

"Today's verdicts also reflect the relentless hard work of the homicide detectives who continue day after day, to work incredibly hard to ensure that yet another evidentially strong case was put before the court to ensure justice was done."

Mr Smith was stabbed multiple times on Albert Road at about 5pm on Monday, March 5.

The court had been told how a disagreement over a motorbike led to the three defendants attacking Mr Smith.

James Mulholland QC, prosecuting, said Mr Smith was stabbed three times by a group of three “armed males wielding large Rambo-type knives and an axe” on Albert Road.

He was stabbed once to the left thigh, once to the left flank and once to his right abdomen and Mr Mulholland told the jury all three defendants “intended that Mr Smith be caused really serious injury, if not death”.

Mr Smith and his cousin Levi Sargeant, who was with him at the time of the attack, ran from their attackers up Archer Road, and headed in the direction of The Albert Tavern, the jury were told.

After running a short distance, Mr Smith collapsed on Archer Road, face forward onto the pavement.

At this stage the attackers left the scene, the court heard, and despite efforts from emergency services and members of the public, Mr Smith was pronounced dead on Albert Road at 5.34pm.

DS Tickle said following the verdict that Farquarson's "poor choices" led to "deadly consequences".

"Kelva Smith died close to his home; ambushed and attacked by someone he once considered a friend," he said.

"This young man lost his life due to a disagreement over a motorbike. He suffered appalling injuries in the middle of a busy street where families live and play.

"This was not a gang-related crime, nor was it postcode-related; it was a senseless and preventable one, committed by Farquarson making poor choices to resolve a dispute by carrying knives and weapons with deadly consequences.

"Now there are two families who are suffering through the wasted potential of young lives close to them, some through the guilty verdict handed down today and, most tragically, through the family of Kelva Smith having to bury their son. This has to stop."

The court also heard accounts from a number of witnesses, including neighbour Anqelique Martis, who accused the group of laughing just minutes after carrying out the attack.

After the attack, Farquharson and the 16-year-old went to Farquharson's home address before coming back outside and making for an alleyway off Albert Road, apparently looking for somewhere to dispose of their weapons. The weapons, however, were never recovered.

Both Farquharson and the 16-year-old handed themselves in at Lewisham Police Station the day after Mr Smith's murder. The 14-year-old also handed himself in four days after the attack.

Police later found the stolen motorbike at the centre of the dispute at the back of flats in Albert Road.

Farquharson and the 16-year-old will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date yet to be confrimed.